This office has recently completed an audit of Carpenters Local 256 under the Compliance
Audit Program (CAP) to determine your organization's compliance with the provisions of
the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA). As discussed
during the exit interview with you, President Gerald Riner and Office Manager Brenda
Johnson on December 15, 2008, the following problems were disclosed during the CAP.
The matters listed below are not an exhaustive list of all possible problem areas since the
audit conducted was limited in scope.

Recordkeeping Violations

Title II of the LMRDA establishes certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Section 206 requires, among other things, that labor organizations maintain adequate
records for at least five years by which each receipt and disbursement of funds, as well as
all account balances, can be verified, explained, and clarified. As a general rule, labor
organizations must maintain all records used or received in the course of union business.

For disbursements, this includes not only original bills, invoices, receipts, vouchers, and
applicable resolutions, but also documentation showing the nature of the union business
requiring the disbursement, the goods or services received, and the identity of the
recipient(s) of the goods or services. In most instances, this documentation requirement
can be satisfied with a sufficiently descriptive expense receipt or invoice. If an expense
receipt is not sufficiently descriptive, a union officer or employee should write a note on it
providing the additional information. For money it receives, the labor organization must
keep at least one record showing the date, amount, purpose, and source of that money.

The labor organization must also retain bank records for all accounts.

The audit of Local 256's 2008 records revealed the following recordkeeping violations:

1. Failure to maintain adequate documentation

The local did not have adequate work permit records to allow OLMS to verify
when and which contractors' work permits were issued.
The local did not have invoices or bills for the cleaning services provided by
however, you did have the three trustees' approval for these disbursements
and the approval of the body authorizing these services.

2. Disposition of Property

The union must report the value of any union property on hand at the beginning
and end of each year in item 28 of the LM-2. It must retain an inventory or similar
record of property on hand to verify, clarify, and explain the information that must
be reported in Item 28.
Local 256 did not maintain an inventory of its t-shirts and other property it
purchased, sold, or gave away. The local was not aware that a detailed inventory
must be maintained. You agreed to inventory the t-shirts, hats and tags and
maintain a detailed report of inventory of items sold, given away or raffled.
Based on your assurance that Local 256 will maintain more detailed records of work
permits issued, require an invoice or bill statement from service providers, and maintain
an inventory of property, OLMS will take no further enforcement action at this time
regarding the above recordkeeping violations.

Reporting Violations

Failure to File Bylaws

The audit disclosed a violation of LMRDA Section 201(a), which requires that a
union submit a copy of its revised constitution and bylaws with its LM report when
it makes changes to its constitution or bylaws. Local 256 is governed by the
Southeastern Carpenters Regional Council By-laws, which were revised May 10,
2007, but did not file a copy with its LM report for that year or the previous year.

The last amendment OLMS had in its disclosure files was for 1969.

Local 256 has now filed a copy of its constitution and bylaws by providing them to
OLMS during the course of this audit.

I want to extend my personal appreciation to Carpenters Local 256 for the cooperation and
courtesy extended during this compliance audit. I strongly recommend that you make
sure this letter and the compliance assistance materials provided to you are passed on to
future officers. If we can provide any additional assistance, please do not hesitate to call.